Qinghe looked around and, fortunately, the others were so engrossed in the competition that they didn't notice Shen Xun.
"Why are you here? Where are the others?"
Shen Xun: "They all have things to do, and I'm bored being alone."
Qinghe recalled what he had just said, "Do you know who Qi Rong is?"
The divine Xun said in a profound and unfathomable manner, "Heavenly secrets cannot be revealed."
Qinghe carefully considered his words: "It seems he is indeed not simple, even you are afraid of him."
Shen Xun retorted, "Who said I'm afraid of him? I just don't want to cause trouble."
Qinghe stopped arguing with him and looked up at the roof again. There was no one there, only a wine pot.
Without continuing to watch the competition, Qinghe secretly slipped away with Shen Xun.
Everyone in the village gathered at the Water Moon Terrace. Qing and Shen Xun came to a quiet place, took a deep breath, and felt that the air had become fresh and comfortable.
The villa boasts elegant scenery. Qinghe arrived at a pavilion in the middle of a lake, leaned against the railing to admire the lake, and felt refreshed and relaxed.
The rare moment of rest didn't last long before an uninvited guest arrived.
With the phoenix hairpin back on her head, Qi Rong stood beside Qing He, her red eyes gazing at the lake, her voice deep and magnetic: "Why don't you continue watching the competition?"
Qinghe didn't look up, and said indifferently, "Boring."
With a lazy chuckle, Qi Rong said, "You call a competition between one of the five major sects boring? If others knew, they would definitely say you are arrogant."
"Aren't you the same? You have no right to judge me." Qinghe shifted her posture. "Will you enter the Mirror of Reincarnation?"
Qi Rong asked her the same question she had asked Miao'er earlier: "Do you want me to go?"
Qinghe didn't answer. After a while, Qirong said again, "If you want to go, I can help you."
Qinghe shook his head, seemingly troubled, and said, "The other disciples will feel it's unfair."
Qi Rong: "Don't worry, they won't know."
Qinghe turned her head away, a slight smirk playing on her lips, then turned back and said, "Then I'll trouble you."
Shen Xun, standing to the side, silently rubbed his forehead. Sigh, he had still gotten himself into trouble.
...
The competition has ended, and the top ten disciples have been selected. The list has been posted on the railing of the Water Moon Terrace, with Yuan Xiu ranked first.
Miao'er was among them, beaming with joy. She spent the entire morning in a daze, envisioning herself fighting alongside Yuan Xiu. She didn't even hear Elder Feng calling her several times.
Feng Lao reminded her, "Don't be too happy yet. The trial of the Mirror of Reincarnation is no small matter. A slight mistake could cost you your life."
Miao'er snapped out of her daze and said, "I know, I'll be careful. Besides, Yuan Xiu is protecting me, so I'm not afraid." She glanced at Yuan Xiu, who was also looking at the list, several times.
Qinghe stood behind her, her eyes lowered in thought. She wondered if what Qirong had said yesterday was still true. If she really wanted to take her into the Mirror of Reincarnation, she wondered how they would get in.
She didn't tell Li Jiang and the others about this. Firstly, she wasn't sure, and secondly, even Shen Xun said that Qi Rong was not simple, so she didn't want Li Jiang and the others to be exposed too quickly.
Just as I was pondering this, I saw a red figure approaching from afar.
Speak of the devil and he appears.
Qi Rong first bowed to Elder Feng, who smiled and waved his hand, saying, "It's been a long time since I've seen such a busy person. What brings you here?"
In front of Elder Feng, Qi Rong became much more reserved: "Uncle Feng, please don't make fun of me. I'm here to congratulate my junior sister on her successful selection."
Upon hearing this, Miao'er immediately stretched out her hand: "Is there a gift?"
Qi Rong took out a jade pendant: "Of course."
"Wow, it's so beautiful." Miao'er took the jade pendant. The translucent red jade was carved into the shape of a fox, which looked crystal clear and lifelike in the sunlight.
Qinghe's gaze was also drawn to the jade pendant, but she wasn't admiring it; she was estimating its value. Someone as wealthy as Qi Rong would surely give away something of considerable worth.
After admiring the jade pendant, Miao'er realized what was going on and pretended to be serious, saying, "This is the first time my senior brother has given me something. I've never seen you so generous before. Tell me, do you have some ulterior motive?"
Qi Rong gently tapped Miao'er's forehead with her folding fan and said, "I gave you something and you still wronged me. Feng Bo, please be the judge."
Old Feng laughed loudly, not paying much attention to the young man's petty squabbles. Since there were still many follow-up matters to be done, he turned and left leisurely.
The crowd had mostly dispersed, and Qi Rong suggested going out to a restaurant to celebrate Miao'er's arrival. Miao'er was overjoyed and insisted on dragging Yuan Xiu, who hadn't gone far, to go with her. However, with Qi Rong present, he only nodded hesitantly.
Just like him, the restaurant Qi Rong chose was as dazzling and flamboyant as he was—a place of immense wealth and power.
The restaurant owner and Qi Rong were old friends. With just a few words, he led the group away from the noisy environment on the first floor and up to a private room on the second floor.
Although Qinghe is a foodie, she still needs to maintain her composure in front of people she doesn't know well. She sits quietly to the side, looking obedient.
If Shen Xun were there, he would expose her without hesitation.
The only issue was the somewhat awkward seating arrangement of the group.
Miao'er stayed close to Yuan Xiu, pestering him to chat about random things, even though Yuan Xiu didn't say a word the whole time.
Qi Rong and Qing He originally occupied two sides of the square table. Qing He tilted her head to look at the scenery downstairs. Before she knew it, someone else had appeared next to her. Qing He turned her head to look at Qi Rong, who had silently crept over, her expression indifferent.
They were very close, even closer than when they were at the gambling den, and Qinghe unconsciously leaned back.
A captivating smile, crescent-shaped peach blossom eyes, and a deep, affectionate gaze when focused on someone.
Qinghe whispered, "Is it pretty?"
Qi Rong: "This face is not good-looking."
Qinghe seemed oblivious to the deeper meaning in his words and said calmly, "How do you plan to take me into the Mirror of Reincarnation?"
Qi Rong glanced at the fox-shaped jade pendant at Miao'er's waist: "That's a spatial artifact. When the time comes, you and I only need to hide inside it."
Qinghe raised an eyebrow: "Old Feng won't let you fool him."
Qi Rong waved her fan and said lazily, "He won't find out."
Qinghe was slightly startled. Although Elder Feng's strength was still far from that of a god, he was still one of the top experts in the human realm. Even he couldn't detect just how terrifying Qi Rong's cultivation level had reached.
However, this was not something she should worry about; this outcome was exactly what she wanted.
The food was served quickly, and Qinghe was indeed hungry. Faced with the delicious food, she no longer held back, eating chicken legs in one hand and rice cakes in the other with great relish. Surprisingly, even though she ate like a hungry wolf, her manners remained elegant and unhurried.
Qi Rong, who was standing nearby, was surprised and brought her a bowl of hot soup, not forgetting to kindly remind her, "Don't choke, eat slowly."
Qing glanced at the soup bowl with disdain: "Is there any wine?"
Qi Rong raised an eyebrow: "Waiter, bring the wine."
Before long, the waiter brought in a wooden tray. On the tray was a uniquely shaped wine pot, and the aroma of wine filled the air, drawing out the wine cravings in Qing's stomach.
Although Qinghe enjoys wine, she only knows a little about it and doesn't understand the different types of wine. She poured herself a glass, took a small sip, and savored the lingering fragrance, which was refreshing and delightful.
"What kind of wine is this?"
Qi Rong tapped her wine glass lightly with her fingertips: "Kapok."
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